Touch panel including connection electrodes formed differently in first area than second area and display apparatus including the same

ABSTRACT

A touch panel includes a substrate, detection electrodes, and connection electrodes. The substrate includes a planar surface portion and a curved surface portion adjacent to the planar surface portion in a first direction, the curved surface portion including an active region and another region disposed outside the active region. The detection electrodes are disposed on the substrate. The detection electrodes are arranged in the first direction and a second direction crossing the first direction. The connection electrodes electrically connect adjacent detection electrodes arranged in a same direction as one another. A connection electrode of the connection electrodes connecting detection electrodes adjacent to each other of the detection electrodes arranged in the first direction is disposed in the active region of the curved surface portion. The connection electrode includes a portion extending in a different direction than the first direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/207,515, filed Jul. 12, 2016, and claims priority to and the benefitof Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0168988, filed Nov. 30, 2015,each of which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as iffully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND Field

Exemplary embodiments relate to a touch panel and a display apparatusincluding the same, and, more particularly, to a touch panel configuredto prevent (or reduce) defects in curved surface portions and a displayapparatus including the same.

Discussion of the Background

Electronic devices, such as smart phones, digital cameras, laptopcomputers, navigation units, smart televisions, and the like, thatprovide images to users, typically include a display apparatus fordisplaying images. The display apparatus may include a touch function toprovide users with a convenient method of interaction. The displayapparatus including the touch function may include a display panel and atouch panel disposed on the display panel. The display panel responds toan input signal from the touch panel to display an image correspondingto the input signal. It is also recognized that display apparatuses maybe formed in various shapes. For example, a display apparatus mayinclude a curved display panel transformed into a shape of a curvedsurface by applying a determined force to a flat display panel orconfigured as a flexible display panel, which may be folded, rolled,flexed, etc. In this manner, the touch panel may also have the sameshape as the display panel, and may be disposed on (or incorporated aspart of) the display panel. Generally, when the touch panel istransformed from a flat plate shape into a curved surface shape, defectsin wiring portions may occur in a curved surface portion.

The above information disclosed in this Background section is only forenhancement of understanding of the background of the inventive concept,and, therefore, it may contain information that does not form the priorart that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

SUMMARY

One or more exemplary embodiments provide a touch panel configured toprevent (or at least reduce) defects in curved surface portions and adisplay apparatus including the same.

Additional aspects will be set forth in the detailed description whichfollows, and, in part, will be apparent from the disclosure, or may belearned by practice of the inventive concept.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments, a touch panel includes asubstrate, detection electrodes, and connection electrodes. Thesubstrate includes a planar surface portion and a curved surface portionadjacent to the planar surface portion in a first direction, the curvedsurface portion including an active region and another region disposedoutside the active region. The detection electrodes are disposed on thesubstrate. The detection electrodes are arranged in the first directionand a second direction crossing the first direction. The connectionelectrodes electrically connect adjacent detection electrodes arrangedin a same direction as one another. A connection electrode of theconnection electrodes connecting detection electrodes adjacent to eachother of the detection electrodes arranged in the first direction isdisposed in the active region of the curved surface portion. Theconnection electrode includes a portion extending in a differentdirection than the first direction.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments, a display apparatusincludes a display panel configured to display an image and a touchpanel disposed on the display panel. The touch panel includes asubstrate, detection electrodes, and connection electrodes. Thesubstrate includes a planar surface portion and a curved surface portionadjacent to the planar surface portion in a first direction, the curvedsurface portion including an active region and another region disposedoutside the active region. The detection electrodes are disposed on thesubstrate. The detection electrodes are arranged in the first directionand a second direction crossing the first direction. The connectionelectrodes electrically connect adjacent detection electrodes arrangedin a same direction as one another. A connection electrode of theconnection electrodes connecting detection electrodes adjacent to eachother of the detection electrodes extending in the first direction isdisposed in the active region of the curved surface portion. Theconnection electrode includes a portion extending in a differentdirection than the first direction.

The foregoing general description and the following detailed descriptionare exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the inventive concept, and are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplaryembodiments of the inventive concept, and, together with thedescription, serve to explain principles of the inventive concept.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an exploded perspective view of adisplay apparatus, according to one or more exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a touch panel of the displayapparatus of FIG. 1, according to one or more exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a partial, enlarged view of a first signal line having azigzag pattern, according to one or more exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of a signal line having a straight lineshape, according to one or more exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 5A illustrates a connection configuration of detection electrodesin a curved surface portion of the touch panel of FIG. 2, according toone or more exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 5B illustrates a connection configuration of detection electrodesin a planar surface portion of the touch panel of FIG. 2, according toone or more exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a portion of signal lines of a display apparatus,according to one or more exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates a connection configuration of detection electrodes ina curved surface portion of a display apparatus, according to one ormore exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates a connection configuration of detection electrodes ina curved surface portion of a display apparatus, according to one ormore exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates a connection configuration of detection electrodes ina planar surface portion of a display apparatus, according to one ormore exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates a connection configuration of detection electrodesin a planar surface portion of a display apparatus, according to one ormore exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates partial regions of a curved surface portion and aplanar portion in a display apparatus, according to one or moreexemplary embodiments.

FIG. 12 illustrates partial regions of a curved surface portion and aplanar surface portion in a display apparatus, according to one or moreexemplary embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of various exemplary embodiments. It is apparent, however,that various exemplary embodiments may be practiced without thesespecific details or with one or more equivalent arrangements. In otherinstances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagramform in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring various exemplaryembodiments.

Unless otherwise specified, the illustrated exemplary embodiments are tobe understood as providing exemplary features of varying detail ofvarious exemplary embodiments. Therefore, unless otherwise specified,the features, components, modules, layers, films, panels, regions,and/or aspects of the various illustrations may be otherwise combined,separated, interchanged, and/or rearranged without departing from thedisclosed exemplary embodiments. Further, in the accompanying figures,the size and relative sizes of layers, films, panels, regions, etc., maybe exaggerated for clarity and descriptive purposes. Also, likereference numerals denote like elements.

When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,”or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on,connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer or interveningelements or layers may be present. When, however, an element or layer isreferred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” or“directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are no interveningelements or layers present. Further, the DR1-axis and the DR2-axis arenot limited to axes of a rectangular coordinate system, and may beinterpreted in a broader sense. For example, the DR1-axis and theDR2-axis may be perpendicular to one another, or may represent differentdirections that are not perpendicular to one another. For the purposesof this disclosure, “at least one of X, Y, and Z” and “at least oneselected from the group consisting of X, Y, and Z” may be construed as Xonly, Y only, Z only, or any combination of two or more of X, Y, and Z,such as, for instance, XYZ, XYY, YZ, and ZZ. As used herein, the term“and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items.

Although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. may be used herein todescribe various elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections,these elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections should notbe limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish oneelement, component, region, layer, and/or section from another element,component, region, layer, and/or section. Thus, a first element,component, region, layer, and/or section discussed below could be termeda second element, component, region, layer, and/or section withoutdeparting from the teachings of the present disclosure.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,”“upper,” and the like, may be used herein for descriptive purposes, and,thereby, to describe one element or feature's relationship to anotherelement(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the drawings. Spatiallyrelative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of anapparatus in use, operation, and/or manufacture in addition to theorientation depicted in the drawings. For example, if the apparatus inthe drawings is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath”other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the otherelements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompassboth an orientation of above and below. Furthermore, the apparatus maybe otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at otherorientations), and, as such, the spatially relative descriptors usedherein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, thesingular forms, “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Moreover,the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,”when used in this specification, specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one ormore other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure is a part. Terms,such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should beinterpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning inthe context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in anidealized or overly formal sense, unless expressly so defined herein.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an exploded perspective view of adisplay apparatus, according to one or more exemplary embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1, a display apparatus 300 may include a display panel100 and a touch panel 200 disposed on the display panel 100. The displaypanel 100 and the touch panel 200 may have flexibility. For example,display elements are disposed on a flexible substrate, such that thedisplay panel 100 may have flexibility. Also, touch elements aredisposed on the flexible substrate, such that the touch panel 200 mayhave flexibility.

The display panel 100 may be an organic light emitting display panelincluding an organic light emitting element; however, exemplaryembodiments are not limited thereto. For instance, various displaypanels, such as liquid crystal display panels, electrowetting displaypanels, electrophoretic display panels, etc., may be used. When thedisplay panel 100 is a liquid crystal display panel, the displayapparatus 300 may further include a lighting unit disposed under and/orat one or more edges of the display panel 100 and configured to providelight to the display panel 100.

The display panel 100 and the touch panel 200 may have a short side in afirst direction DR1, and a long side in a second direction DR2 crossingthe first direction DR1. The first direction DR1 may correspond to a rowdirection, and the second direction DR2 may correspond to a columndirection. To this end, the touch panel 200 may be disposed on thedisplay panel 100 with respect to a third direction crossing the firstdirection DR1 and the second direction DR3, such as perpendicular (orsubstantially perpendicular) to the first direction DR1 and the seconddirection DR2.

The display panel 100 and the touch panel 200 include a planar surfacepart (or portion) PA having a flat shape, and curved surface parts (orportions) CA disposed on both sides of the planar surface part PA ineach of the display panel 100 and the touch panel 200 in the firstdirection DR1. The curved surface parts CA may have a curved surfaceshape with a determined radius of curvature with respect to the firstdirection DR1. The curved surface parts CA may integrally connect withthe planar surface part PA. For instance, after the display panel 100and/or the touch panel 200 are prepared in flat plate shapes, adetermined force is applied to determined regions of one side and theother side of each of the display panel 100 and the touch panel 200 suchthat the curved surface parts CA are formed. After the curved surfaceparts CA are formed, the display panel 100 and the touch panel 200 areaccommodated (or supported) in a case member with a shape correspondingto the curved surface parts CA such that the curved surface parts CA ofthe display panel 100 and the touch panel 200 may maintain the curvedsurface shape. Such a display apparatus 300 may be called an edge-typedisplay apparatus.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments, when an input tool, suchas a human hand, a touch pen, etc., contacts (or almost contacts) ascreen, the touch panel 200 converts the contact position into anelectrical signal. The signal converted into an electronic signal may beprovided to the display panel 100 as an input signal. The display panel100 provides a user with an image corresponding to the input signal inresponse to the input signal provided from the touch panel 200.

As a method of implementing the touch panel 200, a resistive overlaymethod, a capacitive overlay method, a surface acoustic wave method, aninfrared method, or the like may be used. As an exemplary embodiment,the touch panel 200 may be a capacitive overlay-type touch panel 200.The capacitive overlay-type touch panel 200 includes a plurality ofdetection electrodes, which are described later. When a human hand, atouch pen, etc., contacts (or almost contacts) a screen, the touch panel200 detects a change in the capacitance formed between the detectionelectrodes and converts the contact position into an electrical signal.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a touch panel of the displayapparatus of FIG. 1, according to one or more exemplary embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 2, the touch panel 200 includes a substrate 210, aplurality of detection electrodes 10 and 20, a plurality of pads 30, aplurality of signal lines 40, and a bonding (or connection) part 50. Thedetection electrodes 10 and 20, the pads 30, the signal lines 40, andthe bonding part 50 are disposed on the substrate 210. The bonding part50 may include a plurality of bonding pads (third pads) 53 electricallyconnected to the signal lines 40.

The substrate 210 may include a transparent film. As the transparentfilm, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate(PC), cyclo olefin polymer (COP), cyclic olefin copolymer (COC),polymide (PI), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA),polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and the like, may be used.

The substrate 210 of the touch panel 200 may include an active region AAand an inactive region NAA surrounding (or disposed outside) the activeregion AA. The detection electrodes 10 and 20 are disposed on the activeregion AA, and the pads 30, the signal lines 40 and the bonding part 50are disposed on the inactive region NAA. Furthermore, the substrate 210may include the planar surface part PA having a flat shape, and curvedsurface parts CA disposed on both sides of the planar surface part PA inthe first direction DR1.

Referring to FIG. 2, in the first direction DR1, a determined region onthe both sides of the outermost active region AA may be disposed on theregion of the curved surface parts CA. The active region AA, which isnot disposed on the curved surface parts CA, is disposed on the regionof the planar surface part PA. In this manner, the detection electrodes10 and 20, which are disposed on the outermost region on the left sideof the active region AA and the outermost region on the right side ofthe active region AA, may be disposed on determined regions of thecurved surface parts CA adjacent to the planar surface part PA.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments, the detection electrodes10 and 20 may have a polygonal shape having the same shape and size asone another. For example, the detection electrodes 10 and 20 may haveany one shape of a triangular shape or a diamond shape. The detectionelectrodes 10 and 20 having a diamond shape are shown, however, in orderto dispose the detection electrodes 10 and 20 to be matched to aboundary portion of the active region AA, the triangle-shaped detectionelectrodes 10 and 20, which are portions (e.g., halves) of thediamond-shaped detection electrodes 10 and 20 may be used. In otherwords, the detection electrodes having triangular shapes of thedetection electrodes 10 and 20 may be disposed on the boundary of theactive region AA. The detection electrodes having diamond shapes of thedetection electrodes 10 and 20 may be disposed on a portion of theactive region AA at which the detection electrodes having triangularshapes are not disposed.

The detection electrodes 10 and 20 may include conductive materialsconfigured to transmit the image light provided from the display panel100. For example, the detection electrodes 10 and 20 may include atransparent conductive material, such as indium tin oxide (ITO), indiumzinc oxide (IZO), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), or carbonnanotube (CNT). It is contemplated, however, that any other suitablematerial may be utilized in association with exemplary embodiments.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, the detection electrodes 10 and 20are arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns on theactive region AA of the substrate 210. For instance, first detectionelectrodes 10 arranged in rows are connected on a row-by-row basis byfirst connecting electrodes, and second detection electrodes 20 arrangedin columns are connected on a column-by-column basis by secondconnecting electrodes. That is, the first electrodes 10 arranged in rowsare connected in the first direction DR1 by the first connectingelectrodes, and the second detection electrodes 20 arranged in columnsare connected in the second direction DR2 by the second connectingelectrodes.

The first and second detection electrodes 10 and 20 may be alternatelydisposed without overlapping each other. A capacitance is formed betweenthe first and second detection electrodes 10 and 20. The first andsecond connecting electrodes, which connect the first and seconddetection electrodes 10 and 20 in any one direction, may have bentshapes. The detailed configurations of the first connecting electrodesthat connect the first detection electrodes 10 and the second connectingelectrodes that connect the second detection electrodes 20 will bedescribed in detail below.

The pads 30, signal lines 40, and bonding part 50 may be defined as awiring part that transmits a touch signal detected by the first andsecond detection electrodes 10 and 20. The wiring part is connected toends of the first detection electrodes 10 arranged in rows and to endsof the second detection electrodes 20 arranged in columns. For instance,the pads 30 may include a plurality of first pads 31 electricallyconnected to the first detection electrodes 10 arranged in rows and aplurality of second pads 32 electrically connected to the seconddetection electrodes 20 arranged in columns. For example, referring toFIG. 2, the first pads 31 may be electrically connected to a first sideof the first detection electrodes 10 arranged in odd numbered rows andto a second other side opposite to the one side of the first detectionelectrodes 10 arranged in even numbered rows. The second pads 32 may beelectrically connected to a lower side of the second detectionelectrodes 20 arranged in columns.

Each of the signal lines 40 is electrically connected to the each of thepads 30. The signal lines 40 may include a relatively low resistancematerial, such as molybdenum (Mo), silver (Ag), titanium (Ti), copper(Cu), aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), or molybdenum/aluminum/molybdenum(Mo/Al/Mo). Also, the signal lines 40 may be formed by printing silverpaste, which is a conductive material, on the substrate 210.

The signal lines 40 extend via the inactive region NAA adjacent to afirst side (e.g. left side) of the active region AA, the inactive regionNAA adjacent to a second side (e.g. right side) of the active region AA,and the inactive region NAA adjacent to a lower side of the activeregion AA. Each of the signal lines 40 may extend to be electricallyconnected to each of the third pads 53 of the bonding part 50. Forinstance, the signal lines 40 include a plurality of first signal lines41 connected to the first pads 31 and a plurality of second signal lines42 connected to the second pads 32. The first signal lines 41 mayextend, from the first pads 31 to the third pads 53, while being bent inthe first direction DR1, the second direction DR2, and the firstdirection DR1, and the second direction DR2. As shown in FIG. 2, thepart of the first signal lines 41 extending in the first direction DR1in the curved surface part CA may have zigzag patterns. The secondsignal line 42, which is disposed on the center of the substrate 210 inthe first direction DR1 from among the second signal lines 42, extendsin the second direction DR2. The second signal lines 42, except for thesecond signal line 42 that is disposed on the center of the substrate210 in the first direction DR1 from among the second signal lines 42,extend, from the second pads 32 to the third pads 53, while being bentin the second direction DR2, and the first direction DR1, and the seconddirection DR2. As shown in FIG. 2, the part of the second signal lines42 extending in the first direction DR1 in the curved surface part CAmay have zigzag patterns.

The bonding part 50 may be disposed on a lower portion of the substrate210 in the second direction DR2. The bonding part 50 may be connected toan external drive circuit (not shown), such as a detection circuit. Whena human hand, a touch pen, or the like, contacts the screen of thedisplay apparatus 300, capacitance formed between the first and secondelectrodes 10 and 20 may change. The change in the capacitance accordingto contact positions may be transmitted to the drive circuit via thepads 30, signal lines 40, and the bonding part 50. The change in thecapacitance is converted into an electrical signal by, for example, anX- and Y-input processing circuit (not shown) of the drive circuit, suchthat the contact position may be determined.

FIG. 3 is a partial, enlarged view of a first signal line having azigzag pattern, according to one or more exemplary embodiments. FIG. 4illustrates a portion of a signal line having a straight line shape,according to one or more exemplary embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 3, the first signal line 41 having a zigzag patternmay have a repetitive zigzag shape while being bent at a determinedangle θ with respect to the first direction DR1. As shown in FIG. 2,from the first pads 31 to the third pads 53, the first signal lines 41may extend while being bent in the first direction DR1, the seconddirection DR2, and the first direction DR1, and the second directionDR2, thereby the part of the first signal lines 41 extending in thefirst direction DR1 in the curved surface part CA may have zigzagpatterns. The determined angle θ may be greater than 0 degrees and equalto or less than 45 degrees with respect to the first direction DR1.

When a determined force is applied to determined regions of one side andthe other side of the touch panel 200 having a shape of flat plate suchthat the curved surface parts CA having a determined radius of curvaturewith respect to the first direction DR1, stress S (e.g. tensile stress)may be generated at the part of the first signal lines extending thefirst direction DR1 among the first signal lines 40 disposed on thecurved surface parts CA in the first direction DR1. However, when thefirst signal line 41 extending in the first direction DR1 and having azigzag pattern as shown in FIG. 3 is provided, the stress S may bedistributed in the first direction DR1 and a direction that defines adetermined angle θ with respect to the first direction DR1. That is, thestress S associated with forming the curved surface parts CA may bedistributed in the first direction DR1 and along the first signal line41 having a zigzag pattern.

As a comparative example, when a signal line 40′ that is disposed on thecurved surface parts CA and extends in the first direction DR1 having astraight line shape, as shown in FIG. 4, the stress S may be generatedonly in the first direction DR1. That is, since the stress S is notdistributed (unlike the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3), the signal line40′ may be damaged due to the stress S generated only in the firstdirection DR1. However, in one or more exemplary embodiments, the firstsignal lines 41 extending in the first direction DR1 in the curvedsurface part CA may have zigzag patterns. In this manner, the stress Sassociated with forming the curved surface parts CA is distributed andthe first signal lines 41 may, thereby, be prevented (or at leastreduced) from being damaged. Although the first signal lines 41 areexemplarily described in FIG. 3, the second signal lines 42 havingzigzag patterns in the curved surface parts CA may also be prevented (orat least reduced) from being damaged and may be configured similarly tothe first signal lines 41.

FIG. 5A illustrates a connection configuration of detection electrodesin a curved surface portion of the touch panel of FIG. 2, according toone or more exemplary embodiments. FIG. 5B illustrates a connectionconfiguration of detection electrodes in a planar surface portion of thetouch panel of FIG. 2, according to one or more exemplary embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the first connection electrodes 11 and 12electrically connect the first detection electrodes 10 adjacent to eachother. The second connection electrodes 21 electrically connect thesecond detection electrodes 20 adjacent to each other. The first andsecond detection electrodes 10 and 20 may be disposed on layersdifferent from each other with an insulating film (not shown) disposedtherebetween. For example, the second detection electrodes 20 may bedisposed on the substrate 210, the insulating film may be disposed onthe second detection electrodes 20, and the first detection electrodes10 may be disposed on the insulating film. The first connectionelectrodes 11 and 12 and the second connection electrodes 21 aredisposed with the insulating film disposed therebetween.

The first detection electrodes 10 and the first connection electrodes 11and 12 may be simultaneously patterned on the same layer with the samematerial and, as such, may be integrally formed. The second detectionelectrodes 20 and the second connection electrodes 21 may besimultaneously patterned on the same layer with the same material and,as such, may be integrally formed; however, exemplary embodiments arenot limited thereto. For instance, the first and second detectionelectrodes 10 and 20 may be disposed on the same layer. In this manner,the second detection electrodes 20 and the second connection electrodes21 may be integrally formed, and the first connection electrodes 11 and12 disposed on the insulating film may be connected to the firstdetection electrodes 10 adjacent to each other through contact holesformed to pass through the insulating film. To this end, the firstdetection electrodes 10 adjacent to each other may be electricallyconnected by the first connection electrodes 11 and 12. It is alsocontemplated that the first detection electrodes 10 and the firstconnection electrodes 11 and 12 may be integrally formed, and the secondconnection electrodes 21 disposed on the insulating film may beconnected to the second detection electrodes 20 adjacent to each otherthrough contact holes. To this end, the second detection electrodes 20adjacent to each other may be electrically connected by the secondconnection electrodes 21.

Referring to FIG. 5A, the first connection electrode 11 that is disposedon the curved surface part CA and connects the first detectionelectrodes 10 in the first direction DR1 may extend to be inclined at adetermined angle with respect to the first direction DR1. For instance,the first connection electrode 11 disposed on the curved surface part CAhas a bent shape and electrically connect the first detection electrodes10 adjacent to each other in the curved surface part CA. For instance,the first connection electrode 11 may have a doubly bent shape in whichdetermined regions of both sides of the first connection electrode 11are bent two times in directions opposite to each other.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the first connection electrode 11 includes a firstextension part 11_1 connected to one side of a corresponding firstdetection electrode 10 of the first detection electrodes 10, a secondextension part 11_2 connected to the first extension part 11_1, and athird extension part 11_3 connected to the second extension part 11_2.The first extension part 11_1 extends and is bent toward an upper rightside from the first direction DR1 at a determined angle with respect tothe first direction DR1. The second extension part 11_2 is connected toan end of the first extension part 11_1 and extends to be bent toward alower right side from the first direction DR1 at a determined angle withrespect to the first direction DR1. The third extension part 11_3 isconnected to an end of the second extension part 11_2 and extends to bebent toward an upper right side at a determined angle with respect tothe first direction DR1.

The third extension part 11_3 is connected to the first detectionelectrode 10 that is adjacent to the first detection electrode 10connected to the first extension part 11_1. As illustrated in FIG. 5A,the first and third extension parts 11_1 and 11_3 may extend parallel toone another, but exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. Forinstance, the first and third extension parts 11_1 and 11_3 may notextend parallel to one another. The second connection electrode 21disposed on the curved surface part CA has a straight line shape andelectrically connects the second detection electrodes 20 adjacent toeach other in the curved surface part CA.

Referring to FIG. 5B, the first connection electrode 12 disposed on theplanar surface part PA has a straight line shape and electricallyconnects the first detection electrodes 10 adjacent to each other in theplanar surface part PA. The second connection electrode 21 disposed onthe planar surface part PA has a straight line shape and electricallyconnects the second detection electrodes 20 adjacent to each other inthe planar surface part PA.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments, when a determined forceis applied to the touch panel 200 having a flat plate shape such thatthe curved surface parts CA having a determined radius of curvature withrespect to the first direction DR1 are formed, the stress S (e.g.tensile stress) may be generated at the part of the signal lines 40extending in the first direction DR1 among the signal lines 40 disposedon the curved surface parts CA in the first direction DR1. When thefirst connection electrode 11 has a straight line shape extending in thefirst direction DR1 in the curved surface parts, the first connectionelectrode 11 may be damaged as described with reference to FIG. 4 sincethe stress S is not distributed. However, the first connection electrode11 has a doubly bent shape similar to the zigzag patterns of the firstsignal lines 41, so that the stress S may be distributed in the firstconnection electrode 11. In this manner, the stress S associated withforming the curved surface parts CA is distributed and the signal lines40 and the first connection electrode 11 may be prevented from beingdamaged.

Although the first connection electrode 11 having a doubly bent shape isexemplarily described in FIG. 5A, exemplary embodiments are not limitedthereto. When the curved surface parts CA having a determined radius ofcurvature with respect to the second direction DR2 are formed ondetermined regions on both sides of the touch panel 200 with respect tothe second direction DR2, the first connection electrode 11 may have astraight line shape, and the second connection electrodes 21 may havethe same shape as the first connection electrodes 11 shown in FIG. 5A.In this manner, the touch panel 200 and the display apparatus 300including the touch panel 200 may prevent defects associated withstress, which may be generated in the curved surface parts CA and may bedistributed by the signal lines 40 having zigzag patterns and the firstconnection electrode 11 having a bent shape.

FIG. 6 illustrates a portion of signal lines of a display apparatus,according to one or more exemplary embodiments. FIG. 7 illustrates aconnection configuration of detection electrodes in a curved surfaceportion of a display apparatus, according to one or more exemplaryembodiments.

Referring to FIG. 6, a first signal line 41_1 extending in the firstdirection DR1 on a curved surface part CA has a wavy pattern. Althoughnot shown, the second signal lines extending in the first direction DR1on the curved surface part CA may have a zigzag pattern. In the samemanner, a first connection electrode 13 on the curved surface part CAhas a wavy pattern shape and electrically connects first detectionelectrodes 10 adjacent to each other as shown in FIG. 7. Except for theconfiguration of the first signal line 41_1, the second signal lines,and the first connection electrode 13, the display apparatus and touchpanel of FIGS. 6 and 7 is similarly configured as the display apparatus300 and touch panel 200 of FIGS. 3 and 5A. It is noted that the wavypattern shape may also distribute stress similar to the bent shape. Assuch, the display apparatus according to one or more embodiments mayprevent defects that may occur in the curved surface parts CA.

FIG. 8 illustrates a connection configuration of detection electrodes ina curved surface portion of a display apparatus, according to one ormore exemplary embodiments. FIG. 9 illustrates a connectionconfiguration of detection electrodes in a planar surface portion of adisplay apparatus, according to one or more exemplary embodiments. FIG.10 illustrates a connection configuration of detection electrodes in aplanar surface portion of a display apparatus, according to one or moreexemplary embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 8, a first connection electrode 11 disposed on acurved surface part CA may have a bent shape like the first connectionelectrode 11 described with reference to FIG. 5A. The first connectionelectrode 11 electrically connects first detection electrodes 10adjacent to each other. A second connection electrode 22 that isdisposed on a curved surface part CA and electrically connects seconddetection electrodes 20 in a second direction DR2 may have a bent shapesimilar to the first connection electrode 11. Except for theaforementioned configurational difference, the display apparatus andtouch panel of FIG. 8 have the same configuration as the displayapparatus 300 and touch panel 200 of FIG. 5A.

Referring to FIG. 9, a first connection electrode 11 disposed on aplanar surface part PA may have a bent shape like the first connectionelectrode 11 described with reference to FIG. 5A. The first connectionelectrode 11 electrically connects first detection electrodes 10adjacent to each other. Referring to FIG. 10, first and secondconnection electrodes 11 and 22 disposed on a planar surface part PA mayhave bent shapes like the first and second connection electrodes 11 and22 described with reference to FIG. 8. Except for the aforementionedconfigurational difference, the display apparatuses and touch panels ofFIGS. 9 and 10 have the same configuration as the display apparatus 300and touch panel 200 of FIG. 5B.

FIG. 11 illustrates partial regions of a curved surface portion and aplanar portion in a display apparatus, according to one or moreexemplary embodiments. FIG. 12 illustrates partial regions of a curvedsurface portion and a planar surface portion in a display apparatus,according to one or more exemplary embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 11, first detection electrodes 10 and 10_1 include aplurality of first sub detection electrodes 10 having diamond shapes anda plurality of second sub detection electrodes 10_1 having circular orsemi-circular shapes. Second detection electrodes 20 and 20_1 include aplurality of third sub detection electrodes 20 having diamond shapes anda plurality of fourth sub detection electrodes 20_1 having circular orsemi-circular shapes.

The first and third sub detection electrodes 10 and 20 having diamondshapes are disposed on an active region AA overlapping a planar surfacepart PA. The second and fourth sub detection electrodes 10_1 and 20_1having semi-circular shapes may be disposed on the boundary of theactive region AA overlapping a curved surface part CA. The second andfourth sub detection electrodes 10_1 and 20_1 having circular shapes aredisposed on the active region AA overlapping the curved surface part CAand the boundary between the curved surface part CA and the planarsurface part PA in the active region AA.

Except for the above-mentioned configurational differences, the displayapparatus and touch panel of FIG. 11 has the same configuration as thedisplay apparatus 300 and touch panel of FIGS. 5A and 5B.

Referring to FIG. 12, first detection electrodes 10 and 10_2 include aplurality of first sub detection electrodes 10 having diamond shapes anda plurality of second sub detection electrodes 10_2 having hexagonal ortrapezoidal shapes. Second detection electrodes 20 and 20_2 include aplurality of third sub detection electrodes 20 having diamond shapes anda plurality of fourth sub detection electrodes 20_2 having hexagonal ortrapezoidal shapes.

The first and third sub detection electrodes 10 and 20 having diamondshapes are disposed on an active region AA overlapping a planar surfacepart PA. The second and fourth sub detection electrodes 10_2 and 20_2having trapezoidal shapes may be disposed on the boundary of the activeregion AA overlapping a curved surface part CA. The second and fourthsub detection electrodes 10_2 and 20_2 having hexagonal shapes aredisposed on the active region AA overlapping the curved surface part CA.and the boundary between the curved surface part CA and the planarsurface part PA in the active region AA.

Except for the above-mentioned configurational differences, the displayapparatus and touch panel of FIG. 12 has the same configuration as thedisplay apparatus 300 and touch panel 200 of FIGS. 5A and 5B.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments, a diamond shape issubstantially a rectangle and has four sides. As the number of sidesincreases, the more the stress may be distributed. Accordingly, thestress may be distributed more in the hexagonal touch electrodes 10_2and 20_2 than in the diamond shaped electrodes. Also, the circular shapemay distribute more stress than the polygonal shape. Accordingly, thestress may be distributed more in the circular touch electrodes 10_1 and20_1.

Although the detection electrodes 10_1, 20_1, 10_2 and 20_2 having thecircular, hexagonal, semi-circular, and trapezoidal shapes areexemplarily described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, the shape ofthe detection electrodes are not limited thereto, and may be variouslyset. For example, detection electrodes having a polygonal shape with anumber of sides greater than four, and detection electrodes that arehalves of the detection electrodes may be disposed on the touch panel.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments, the display apparatusesand touch panels may prevent defects, which may occur in curved surfaceparts CA, by the signal lines having zigzag patterns and the firstconnection electrode having bent shapes. It is noted, however, that atouch panel and a display apparatus may include signal lines having bentshapes or wavy pattern shapes and similar connection electrodes, so thatdefects in curved surface parts may be prevented.

Although certain exemplary embodiments and implementations have beendescribed herein, other embodiments and modifications will be apparentfrom this description. Accordingly, the inventive concept is not limitedto such embodiments, but rather to the broader scope of the presentedclaims and various obvious modifications and equivalent arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch panel comprising: a substrate comprising:an active region including a flat portion and a first curved portionadjacent to the flat portion in a first direction; and an inactiveregion surrounding the active region and including a second curvedportion adjacent to the first curved portion; a first sensor portionextending in the first direction and disposed on the active region, thefirst sensor portion comprising a plurality of first detectionelectrodes arranged in the first direction and a plurality of firstbranch electrodes extending from adjacent first detection electrodes ofthe first detection electrodes; and a second sensor portion extending ina second direction crossing the first direction and disposed on theactive region, wherein the first and second curved portions are curvedwith respect to an axis parallel to the second direction and atdetermined radius of curvature with respect to the first direction,wherein a branch electrode of the first branch electrodes is disposed inthe first curved portion and another branch electrode of the firstbranch electrode is disposed in the flat portion, and wherein the branchelectrode extends in a different direction from the another branchelectrode.
 2. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the second sensorportion comprises a plurality of second detection electrodes arranged inthe second direction.
 3. The touch panel of claim 2, wherein the secondsensor portion further comprises: a plurality of second branchelectrodes extending from adjacent second detection electrodes of thesecond detection electrodes, and wherein the first branch electrodecomprises: a portion extending in a different direction than the firstdirection and being inclined at a determined angle with respect to thefirst direction.
 4. The touch panel of claim 3, wherein: the firstdetection electrodes and the second detection electrodes are arranged inan alternating pattern, the first detection electrodes being spacedapart from the second detection electrodes; and the first branchelectrodes and the second branch electrodes cross one another with aninsulating film disposed therebetween.
 5. The touch panel of claim 1,wherein the first branch electrode comprise bent shapes.
 6. The touchpanel of claim 1, wherein: the another branch electrode extends in astraight line shape in the first direction; and the second branchelectrodes extend in straight line shapes in the second direction. 7.The touch panel of claim 5, wherein the branch electrode comprisesdoubly bent shape, the doubly bent shape comprising portions bent inopposite directions of one another.
 8. The touch panel of claim 7,wherein: in a plan view, the branch electrode comprises: a firstextension portion extending from a first side of one of the adjacentfirst detection electrodes, the first extension portion extending in thefirst direction and toward an upper right side of the touch panel; asecond extension portion extending from an end of the first extensionportion, the second extension portion extending in the first directionand toward a lower right side of the touch panel; and a third extensionportion extending from an end of the second extension portion, the thirdextension portion extending in the first direction toward the upperright side of the touch panel; and the third extension portion extendsfrom another of the adjacent first detection electrodes.
 9. The touchpanel of claim 3, wherein: some of the second branch electrodes aredisposed on the first curved portion and comprise bent shapes.
 10. Thetouch panel of claim 3, wherein: other first branch electrodes of thefirst branch electrodes are disposed on the flat portion and comprisebent shapes.
 11. The touch panel of claim 3, wherein: other first branchelectrodes of the first branch electrodes are disposed on the flatportion; some of the second branch electrodes are disposed on the flatportion; and the other first branch electrodes and the some of thesecond branch electrodes comprise bent shapes.
 12. The touch panel ofclaim 3, wherein the branch electrode comprise wavy pattern shapes. 13.The touch panel of claim 3, further comprising: a first signal lineconnected to the first sensor portion; and disposed on the inactiveregion; and a second signal line connected to the second sensor portionand disposed on the inactive region, wherein the first signal linecomprises a portion extending in the first direction while being bent ina direction different from the first and second directions.
 14. Thetouch panel of claim 13, wherein the first signal line comprises: afirst portion connected to the first sensor portion and extending in thefirst direction while being bent in a direction different from the firstand second directions; a second portion extending in the seconddirection from the first portion; and a third portion extending in thefirst direction while being bent in a direction different from the firstand second directions.
 15. The touch panel of claim 14, wherein thesecond signal line comprises: a fourth portion connected to the secondsensor portion and extending in the second direction; and a fifthportion extending in the first direction from the fourth portion whilebeing bent in a direction different from the first and seconddirections.
 16. The touch panel of claim 15, wherein: the first, third,and fifth portions comprise zigzag patterns.
 17. The touch panel ofclaim 16, wherein the first, third, and fifth portions extend whilerepeatedly bent in a zigzag pattern at angles of greater than 0 degreesand less than or equal to 45 degrees with respect to the firstdirection.
 18. The touch panel of claim 2, wherein the first and seconddetection electrodes are diamond shaped.
 19. A touch panel comprising: asubstrate comprising: a flat portion; and a curved portion adjacent tothe flat portion in a first direction, the curved portion including anactive region and inactive region disposed outside the active region;detection electrodes disposed on the flat portion and the active region,the detection electrodes comprising first detection electrodes arrangedin the first direction and second detection electrodes arranged in asecond direction crossing the first direction; and branch electrodeselectrically connecting adjacent detection electrodes arranged in a samedirection as one another, the branch electrodes comprising first branchelectrodes extending from adjacent first detection electrodes of thefirst detection electrodes and second branch electrodes extending fromadjacent second detection electrodes of the second detection electrodes,wherein the curved portion is curved with respect to an axis parallel tothe second direction and at determined radius of curvature with respectto the first direction, wherein a branch electrode of the first branchelectrodes is disposed in the active region of the curved portion andanother branch electrode of the first branch electrodes is disposed inthe flat portion, and wherein the branch electrode extends in adifferent direction from the another branch electrode.